SETANTA SPORTS has secured the mobile rights for Ireland to English Premier League games for the next three seasons.

This will allow mobile phone users here to catch coverage of up to 380 games a season on a “nearly live” basis – in other words, you won’t have to wait for a game to end to view a goal.

ESPN has the same rights for the British market.

It remains to be seen if Setanta cuts a deal with all of the mobile operators here to allow access to this coverage or whether it will negotiate an exclusive deal with a single provider.

With Apple’s iPhone gaining in popularity here, this could be a nice little earner for Setanta.

The Irish broadcaster appeared to have burned its bridges with the English Premier League two years ago when it lost its live television rights for Britain after running into financial difficulties.

But the newly constituted Irish business – supported by concert promoter Denis Desmond – is back in the game. Having already secured the live rights to show Saturday afternoon Premier League games in Ireland, it has now netted this mobile deal.

Result.